Tender for five-cup sluice, Human chain to demand closure.

There is no canal, but the Barguna Water Development Board has tendered a five-cup sluice in the Locha Mora canal. If the sluice gate in Locha Canal is constructed, at least five hundred families of that area will have to sit on the road with their families. They demanded to remove the sluice gate immediately. On Monday morning, the local people formed a human chain for an hour in Locha village to demand that the construction work of this sluice be stopped. At least five hundred men and women participated in the human chain.

Amtali Upazila District Officer Muhammad Ashraful Alam said, there is no need to construct sluicegate in Locha Canal. I have informed the Civil Engineer of Barguna Water Development Board to remove the sluice.
It is known that Locha Canal passes through Amtali Sadar Union and Municipality of Amtali Upazila. A section of the canal was built by the Water Development Board at least a hundred years ago as a flood control dam. The canal has been filled up due to the removal of the dam. At least five hundred families are living in the canal. That canal has no face. But the Barguna Water Development Board has completed the tender work of removing five sluices in that canal. Sluice-removal work will begin in a few days. Locals complain that without any discussion with the people of Locha Canal area, Barguna Water Development Board has made a tender for the construction of five sluices. They also complain that the canal was filled hundreds of years ago. At least five hundred families have been living in the canal by building houses. They demanded that the sluice of this canal should be stopped immediately and the sluice of the sluice should be removed from the side of the river. Locals formed a human chain in Lochagram on Monday demanding the closure of the sluice gate of Locha Mora canal. Former Councilors Fakhr Uddin Faku, Nashir Uddin Howladar, Md Awal Gazi, Shiuli Begum, Mosa Begum and Renu Akhter spoke in the hour-long human chain under the chairmanship of Councilor GM Mucha.
Speakers in the human chain said that 100 years ago, the Water Development Board constructed the flood control dam at the head of the Locha canal. Since then the canal has been filled up. At least five hundred families have been living in the canal by constructing houses. 100 yards away from that canal there is a flowing canal. There is a closet sluice in that canal. They demanded that the construction of sluices in Locha canal should be stopped and the Usitala canal should be renovated.
Md Rakib, civil engineer of Barguna Water Development Board, said, I have come to know about the matter. Necessary action will be taken subject to investigation.